Lamp guard



Nov. 10, 1942. G. c. HARBISON 2,301,697

LAMP GUARD Filed March 5, 1941 Invehtor: Geovge C. Harbis'on His Attorney.

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 LAMP GUARD George C. Harbison, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of Ne York Application March 5, 1941, Serial No. 381,833

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a lamp guard for use in devices such as refrigerator cabinets and the like.

The objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a partial front view of a refrigerator cabinet of the domestic type illustrating the application of my invention thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1 and illustrates details of my invention; and Fig. 3 is a view of the lamp guard and support therefor illustrated in Fig. 2 taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

In order to protect a lamp l0 provided for the illumination of the interior of a cabinet, such as a refrigerator Ila, I have provided a lamp guard H preferably formed from resilient wire and disposed in a generally U-shaped loop carried by upwardly extending supporting members I2, such as closed loops formed .on two of the longitudinally extending shelf wires l3, for example, the support members acting to pivotally support the guard. Means is provided for normally positioning the guard and for limiting its movement towards the lamp as hereinafter described.

Describing my invention in greater detail. I have provided a refrigerator cabinet Illa having suitable thermally insulated walls defining a food storage compartment l5, an opening in a wall thereof being closed by a suitably hinged thermally insulated closure member 16. In order to cool the compartment I5, there is provided a suitable refrigerating system including a refrigerant evaporator il preferably disposed in the upper portion of the storage compartment. A plurality of shelves as indicated by the numerals I8 and I9, are provided for the storage of articles of food in the refrigerated compartment 15. The shelf illustrated in the drawing preferably comprises a marginal frame 20 extending around the shelf and a plurality of longitudinally extending article supporting members l3 extending between front and rear portions of the frame 20. The shelves are slidably supported by suitable shelf supports 2|. Any other suitable shelf and support arrangement may be employed.

In order to illuminate the interior of the compartment there is provided a lamp It in a rear wall of the compartment slightly below one of the shelves. In order that the lamp will take up as little food storage space as possible, the inner liner 22 of the cabinet wall is recessed, as indicated by the numeral 23, a suitable electric socket 24 being provided therein for holding the lamp.

In order to protect the lamp II) from blows caused by the movement of objects into contact therewith, I have provided the guard H adjacent the lamp, preferably carried by the shelf l8 lmmediately above the lamp.

In order to support the guard, I have constructed two of the longitudinal members l3 toprovide upwardly extending loops l2, the loops being disposed above the plane of the shelf adjacent the rear edge thereof. These loops may be formed by bending the material to form vertically extending adjacent portions 21 and 28 surmounted by the loops.

The guard H in the form illustrated in my invention is formed of relatively resilient wire and is generally U-shap ed in plan view. The ends of the guard extend upwardly through the openings between the wires and have oppositely directed portions 25 extending through the closed loops l2 thereby providing pivotal engagement with the shelf. The provision of the loops 12 on the upper surface of the shelf l8 provides stops for limiting the rearward movement of any article or recep tacle placed thereon as, for example, a drip tray 26. Moreover, by disposing the loops or support members 12 on the upper side of the shelf and by bending the guard rearwardly to form rearwardly extending bends or loops H, or by otherwise providing a laterally extending member on the guard for engagement with the rear portion of frame 20, there is provided a stop for limiting the movement of the guard toward the lamp. By disposing the lower portion of the guard sufiiciently forwardly and making the width or lateral extent of the guard sufliciently great, any contact between articles stored in the cabinet with the lamp is prevented.

As previously described, the loops l2 are joined to the members l3 by portions 21 and 28 lying closely adjacent or engaging each other. Inasmuch as the members l3 are formed from round wire, there will be provided a slight groove or depression between the upstanding specially formed members adjacent the pivotal point defined by the loop 12.

In order normally to position the guard, I provide a slight bend 29 or other lateral projection near the end of each arm of the guard for engagement with the depression. Inasmuch as the material from which the guard is made is relatively resilient, the above construction permits ready disengagement of the portion 29 of the guard from the depression between adjacent porshelf in a box or carton occupying as little space as possible.

Many modifications may be made in my invention. For example, if no drip tray is provided,

the supporting members i2 may be provided on the under side of the shelf or, if desired, the supporting members may be carried by a wall of the cabinet or, in a refrigerator, by the evaporator itself, or may be attached to the shelf below the lamp such as to shelf IS in Fig. 1.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims upper side of said shelf, said shelf having openings therein through which the guard extends from said pivot member to a position below said shelf adjacent said lamp, and means associated with said shelf and said guard for normally positioning said guard in a position which will normally prevent articles stored in said cabinet from engaging said lamp.

3. In a cabinet or the like having a shelf disposed therein and a lamp for the illumination of the interior of said cabinet positioned below and adjacent the rear edge of said shelf, a lamp guard formed from relatively resilient material pivotally carried by a member disposed on the upper side of said shelfadjacent the rear edge thereof, said guard extending through openings in said shelf to a position below said shelf and extending -sufllciently forwardly and laterally to prevent contact of articles stored within said cabinet and said lamp.

4. In a lamp guard assembly for use in refrigerator cabinets or the like, a shelf mounted in said cabinet, said shelf comprising a marginal frame and a plurality of article supporting members extending between the front and rear portions of said frame, two of said members formed to proto cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a cabinet or the like having a shelf therein and a lamp for illuminating the interior of said cabinet positioned below said shelf, a lamp guard formed from relatively resilient material and pivotally carried by a member disposed on the upper side of said shelf, said shelf having onenings therein through which said guard extends from said pivot member to a position adjacent the lamp, said guard also having a stop member associated therewith for engaging a portion of said shelf to limit movement of the guard in a direction toward said lamp. I

2. In a cabinet or the like having a shelf therein and a lamp for illuminating the interior of said cabinet positioned below said shelf, a lamp guard formed from relatively resilient material and pivotally carried by a member disposed on the vide closed loops above the plane of said shelf adjacent the rear edge thereof, a lamp positioned below said shelf and adjacent the rear edge thereof, a lamp guard comprising agenerally U-shaped loop of relatively resilient material, the ends thereof having oppositely directed portions extending into said closed loops for pivotally supporting said guard below said shelf, said guard extending downwardly through the spaces between adiacent article supporting members, a portion of said guard being disposed rearwardly to engage the rear frame portion for limiting movement of said guard toward said lamp, the lower part of said guard being shaped to extend forwardly and sufflciently laterally to prevent the contact of articles stored in said cabinet with said lamp, said guard also having a laterally disposed 'portionengaging the depression between adjacent portion of the supporting member at the base of the closed loop for normally positioning said shelf.

GEORGE C. I-IARBISON. 

